Feedback requested: e39 and now an e60

stevepow · 15th January 2007, 00:03

If this is you, how do you feel about it?

I had an e39 M5 I let go of thinking an e60 550i would be more practical. Bad idea - more practical, yes, but it doesn't feel or drive like a BMW - floaty at high speeds is the problem and none of the steering sensor fixes is apparently applicable. So I worry that e60 may just not be so well thought out.

I'm seriously considering going for an 08 M5, but just wondering if it will also be a let down compared to the e39.

Thanks for any insight.

unfoundhorsepower · 15th January 2007, 00:10

I never had an E39, but how can anyone be disappointed with an E60. ???

thebishman · 15th January 2007, 00:15

I owned a 2001 LeMans Blue M5 that I loved; drove it for 18 fantastic months, which was a very long time for me to keep a car back then. I considered and blew off the E60 M5 at first, not liking the new body style, and buying into all of the negative hype re: I-Drive.

You know what? I'm a Dickhead; there I said it.

While I still have some reservations about the E60 design especially in the non-'M' variants, I now love the style of the M5; I just needed time looking at one and living with one. Also, I-Drive is not the coming of the 'Anti-Christ' as most auto-mag 'writers' would have you believe. Is it perfect?, no, but it is totally functional, and the more I use it, the more I like it.

As for the comfort, speed and driving dynamics of the E60 M5 versus the E39 M5; well IMHO there is hardly a comparison. The E60 M5 is just on a different plane completely versus it's older brother.

My bottom line; you'd not regret buying one. YMMV of course.
Bish

stevepow · 15th January 2007, 00:27

Thanks Bish.

Let me just say that in my 550i, the stereo blows away the e39, the comfort seats are infinitely more comfortable, and while I thought the e39 was a beautiful car, the e60 looks great to me also, and the iDrive has never been a problem. In many ways it is a nicer, more refined car.

Road feel and driving pleasure is what I am concerned about. In this regard, the e39 M5 was the finest car I have ever driven and the e60 550i even with the Sport package is just not. It is my 7th BMW in 22 years and probably the least fun to drive.

So if the e60 M5 is not "floaty" and disconnected from the road at 80mph and up? That'd be great.

Thanks again.

Ashok Arora · 15th January 2007, 01:09

I've had both and the E60 is certainly evolutionary in many respects. The cabin environment is certainly much better but the gearbox leaves a lot to be desired and the engine just doesn't have the low end torque that I loved so much in my E39.

I always say that the E39 was a charging rhino and the E60 the Starship Enterprise.

M CRISIS · 15th January 2007, 01:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevepow

So if the e60 M5 is not "floaty" and disconnected from the road at 80mph and up? That'd be great.

Not "floaty" at all. I don't think I'm exagerating when I say that 120 feels like 80. Pretty solid to me. (Feels very stable even up to 200 he-he!)

AJ · 15th January 2007, 01:46

you will find the m5 more highly-strung, quicker on its feet and weaker below 4000-5000 rpms compared to the e39 m5.

i did. nothing wrong with the e60 m5- better in every way and closer to the m-philosophy compared to the e39 m5.

alex
few cars

supercup · 15th January 2007, 01:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevepow

If this is you, how do you feel about it?

I had an e39 M5 I let go of thinking an e60 550i would be more practical. Bad idea - more practical, yes, but it doesn't feel or drive like a BMW - floaty at high speeds is the problem and none of the steering sensor fixes is apparently applicable. So I worry that e60 may just not be so well thought out.

I'm seriously considering going for an 08 M5, but just wondering if it will also be a let down compared to the e39.

Thanks for any insight.

I had an e39 and now have an e60 and it is a better car in every way. From a 550 to an M5 will be a quantom leap and you will once again be in love with BMW. If you get the M5, get the SMG.

Good luck with your decision.

JCM

bernhtp · 15th January 2007, 01:53

I had two E39 M5s and the E60 is better in every important way, and often far better.

Tom

mricorp · 15th January 2007, 02:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevepow

If this is you, how do you feel about it?

I had an e39 M5 I let go of thinking an e60 550i would be more practical. Bad idea - more practical, yes, but it doesn't feel or drive like a BMW - floaty at high speeds is the problem and none of the steering sensor fixes is apparently applicable. So I worry that e60 may just not be so well thought out.

I'm seriously considering going for an 08 M5, but just wondering if it will also be a let down compared to the e39.

Thanks for any insight.

This is a subject which you will not get a common answer.

As far as I am concerned the E39 is a much better drivers car than the E60. The E60 is great if you love to scream around all day long at high rpms but lacks the low end torque that the E39 is loved for.

I personally did not like the E60 M5 and sold it after 6 months. Luckily I kept my E39 and will drive her until the wheels fall off.

Different strokes..........